Register Now For Earth Day Volunteer Slots

The has announced on its website activities being planned in Castro Valley for Earth Day April 28.

Here are some volunteer opportunities available that day.

Adopt-A-Spot volunteers being recruited

Volunteers are needed to beautify and clean up Castro Valley  from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.. To participate, select a site below that you would like to beautify and then register by April 16  here.

Site A:

Carlos Bee Hills Park
Hayward Area Recreation District
1905 Grove Way
Castro Valley, CA 94546 

Activities: Painting tables, weed control, litter abatement, and removal of invasive ivy. A maximum of 30 volunteers are needed. Parking is limited and carpooling is strongly advised.

Site B: 

Palomares Hills Park
Hayward Area Recreation District
7050 Villareal
Castro Valley, CA 94552

Activities: Painting tables and exterior of restroom building, weed removal, and raking of leaves along pathways. A maximum of 50 volunteers can help.

Site C: 

Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area
East Bay Regional Park District
18627 Cull Canyon Road
Castro Valley, CA 94546

Activities: Landscape planting project in parking lot and weed removal. A maximum of 30 volunteers can participate. 

Site D: 

Castro Valley Creek
3600 Norbridge Avenue
Meet in parking area adjacent to creek, behind Kentucky Fried Chicken on Castro Valley Blvd. 

Activities: Planting, weed abatement, litter removal, and mulch application. There is a maximum of 50 volunteers permitted. 

Site E: 

BART Parking Lot
3301 Norbridge Drive
Meet at Supervisor Nate Miley’s Office, 20993 Redwood Road

Activities: Litter removal along Redwood Road, Norbridge Avenue, and the perimeter of the BART parking lot. A maximum of 20 volunteers are needed.  

Walk-ins on Earth Day, April 28,  will be accepted at locations that still have space available.  (With limited space available at the 5 public sites listed above, volunteers with a student or family member at a Castro Valley School are encouraged to participate in their school’s clean-up. Castro Valley Sanitary District works directly with schools for Earth Day projects. Please contact your school's main office for more information and registration instructions.

All yard trimmings from the clean-up activities and food scraps & food-soiled paper from the breakfast will be composted.

Participants who sign up and attend should wear long pants, a hat for shade and closed-toed shoes as part of their attire that day. If possible, they should also bring work gloves and a refillable water bottle.

Volunteers are being encouraged to carpool or walk to their assigned site by 9 a.m. A "Go Green" facilitator will give you materials for your project as well as safety guidelines.  A light breakfast will be provided. 

Help a favorite charity by foregoing a free event t-shirt

In the spirit of waste reduction and community action, Castro Valley Sanitary District has announced it will donate $5 to one of five local charities on behalf of each event volunteer in lieu of free event t-shirts.  Simply select from the list of charities when you register. The five charities are the Alameda County Library Foundation (Castro Valley Library), the Castro Valley Arts Foundation, the Castro Valley Educational Foundation, Castro Valley Soccer Club, and Save Our Schools Castro Valley.

Recycling, document shredding, drug disposal and compost give-away event at Canyon Middle School

From 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the lower parking lot of there will be a recycling and compost give-away event.

Pharmaceutical drop-off

Castro Valley residents (no others) will be allowed to drive up in their cars and drop off pharmaceuticals for recycling including prescription and over-the-counter medications in tablet, liquid,ointment, inhaler, powder or patch form. (Prescription medicines include both controlled and non-controlled substances). Pills should be emptied into zippered plastic bags or plastic containers. Liquids, ointments and powders should remain in their original containers. Those dropping off pharmaceuticals must stay in their car while dropping them off.

The following will not be accepted: Health and beauty aids, vitamins, nutritional supplements, digestive aids, herbal remedies, illegal substances and paraphernalia, infectious waste, business/institutional waste, medical devices and equipment, sharps (needles or syringes), personal care items, or radioactive materials.  

Reusable goods drop-off (all must be in working condition)

The following reusable goods will be accepted, (but no others): clothing, shoes, belts, accessories, jewelry, linens, bedding, drapes, curtains, fabric, yarn, sewing items, craft items, art supplies, toys, games, musical instruments, sports equipment, music, movies, DVDs & CDs, records, books, small electrical appliances, tools (no larger than 3’x3’ and easily moved), kitchenware, glassware, knick-knacks, trinkets, and small furniture (no larger than 4’x6’ and easily moved).

Anything not listed above will not be accepted. Note: items that specifically will not be accepted include things such as E-waste, televisions, sofas, stereo consoles, mattress & box springs, exercise equipment, baby goods (cribs, car seats, and strollers), pool covers, rusty items, microwave ovens, hazardous waste, or items in need of repair or cleaning.

Document Shredding

Castro Valley residents can bring sensitive documents for shredding. There is a limit of 10 banker boxes or equivalent of paper documents for shredding.  You should place your documents in cardboard boxes or paper bags.  Spiral notebooks and documents with staples, paperclips & report covers are allowed. Carbon paper or plastic is not allowed. 

Free compost give-away

Three 1-cubic foot bags of compost per household or business will be given away.  Supplies are limited and will be distributed first come basis. Vehicle loading assistance will be available. Participation in the Earth Day Clean-Up is not required to receive free compost, however you must be a Castro Valley Sanitary District resident or business (bring your identification or bill).  

Sponsors of Earth Day 2012

Some of the sponsors of the event include Waste Management of Alameda County, Alameda County, Alameda County Public Works, Hayward Area Recreation Department, Pete's Ace Hardware, Clean Water Alameda County, and the Castro Valley Sanitary District,  

For more information call (510) 537-0757.